Floyd E. Hawthorne

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012 7:46 a.m. CST

Mr. Floyd E. “Gene" Hawthorne, 86, of Morris, Ill., passed away with his loving family by his side in his home Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 23, 2012.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, p.m. at U. C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., 301 W. Washington St., Morris, IL. Cremation Rites were accorded and private family inurnment will take place at a later date in Ramsey Cemetery in Ramsey, Ill.

Born Dec. 30, 1925, in Vandalia, Ill., he was the son of Floyd and Helen Daniels Hawthorne. He received his education in the schools in Vandalia and graduated from Vandalia High School with the Class of 1942.

Gene married Helen J. Henson on Nov. 4, 1944, in Vandalia. With his wife and family, he moved to Northern Illinois in 1952, residing in the Morris area for the last 52 years.

He was employed with Caterpillar Inc. in Joliet for more than 35 years, retiring in 1987.

Gene loved the outdoors and all that Mother Nature had to offer. He also enjoyed woodworking, genealogy, and spending time visiting with his many friends and family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving are his loving daughters, Joyce, and her husband, Wayne Shepherd, and Kathy Greenbeck of Morris; Patricia and her husband, Curt Stroud, of Vandalia; and Cheryl, and her husband, Tom Tesdal, of Morris; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, with another on the way; one great-, great-granddaughter; three sisters, Carolyn (Dick) Badorek of Clinton, Ill., Judy (Cotton) Wehrle of Vandalia, and Vicki (Ronnie) Stapp of Ramsey, Ill.; one brother, Danny (Peggy) Hawthorne of Ramsey; and several nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, on Jan. 31, 2004; one son, Scott Hawthorne, on Feb. 26, 2010; one grandson, Craig Stroud; and one great-grandson, Ean Phillips.

Preferred form of remembrance would be memorial gifts in Gene’s memory directed to the Morris Hospital Patient Transportation program.

Condolences can be extended online to the family at www.ucdavisandsons.com.

U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., Morris, is in charge of arrangements. For additional information, call the funeral home at (815) 942-0084.